Greetings SATW Freelance Council Members

January 12 - Full Day in Jacksonville

Riverfront Plaza
Your Jacksonville day started at the new Riverfront Plaza along the St. Johns River. The space includes an elevated destination playground on top of a park pavilion building, a large flexible event lawn, as well as a new bulkhead, riverwalk and a plaza space connecting Riverfront Plaza to the Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts. The park pavilion building, where we had lunch, will include a small café space, restrooms, mechanical rooms and storage space to support the park. A to-be-announced restaurant will open in the pavilion in 2026.

Phase 2 of Riverfront Plaza will include a beer garden, rain garden and a bike and pedestrian connection to the Main Street Bridge (the blue bridge). Phase 2 is anticipated to start in early 2026 with an anticipated completion of 2027.

Lunch from Chef Tom Gray
Two-time James Beard nominee Tom Gray is the owner and head chef of:

Electric Dough Pizza Co. in the San Marco neighborhood
Prati Italia in the Southside neighborhood
Town Hall in the San Marco neighborhood

Tom grew up in Jacksonville, graduated from the Culinary Institute of America and worked in New York City, Los Angeles and Napa Valley before returning to Jacksonville.

Jacksonville Tour Options

Jacksonville’s Black History with Explore Jax Core  
This guided tour explored the pillars of the Black community that helped shape Jacksonville to what it is today. Throughout the 8-10 miles of the tour, admire mural exhibitions that depict past and present Black citizens, visit places of interests and memorials honoring individuals. We’ll stop at the first public school for Black children and hear about local and National Black leaders who influenced the Harlem Renaissance, NAACP, labor movements, and “The Great Migration” of Black Americans from the south. 

Sweets and Sips at Sweet Pete’s and Manifest Distilling  
This tour started with a private lollipop making class at Sweet Pete’s Candy Shop, a uniquely decorated candy mansion in Downtown Jacksonville specializing in handmade chocolates and candies. After that, guests headed across Downtown to Manifest Distilling in the Sports & Entertainment District for a private tasting class. Manifest celebrates the best of what American craftsmanship has to offer, from the American-made distillation equipment to the grains sourced from a network of co-ops throughout the North America .  

Jacksonville’s Historic Neighborhoods of Riverside Avondale and San Marco with Go Tuk’n  
This tour took guests on a journey through Jacksonville’s rich history and vibrant culture along tree-lined streets, marveling at charming early 20th-century architecture, including stunning examples of Prairie, Tudor, and Mediterranean Revival styles.  Listed in the National Registry of Historic Places, Riverside Avondale is one of Jacksonville’s oldest and coolest neighborhoods, which has a unique mix of history, culture, charm and modern design.  San Marco is a historically and architecturally significant area near Downtown Jacksonville. With roots dating back to 1793, with a twist of European feel: streets names and business district were inspired by the Piazza di San Marco in Venice, Italy. 

Jacksonville Zoo & Botanical Gardens: Previewed the new manatee habitat and Skyscape entrance/special event area  
REZOOVENATION will revitalize nearly every part of the Zoo, starting with the J. Wayne and Delores Barr Weaver Manatee River habitat and the immersive VyStar SkyScape entrance, expected to open in spring 2026. These projects will feature expanded and new animal habitats designed to prioritize animal well-being and create unique experiences for over a million guests annually. As visitors explore these beautifully crafted ecosystems, they will discover the rich diversity of the natural world in more engaging and innovative ways, aligning with the Zoo's mission to inspire through nature.   

Theodore Roosevelt Area tour with Timucuan Parks Foundation  
The Theodore Roosevelt Area is a 600-acre natural treasure of hardwood forest, wetlands, and scrub vegetation. Experience miles of thickly wooded peaceful nature trails, vast grassland that supports both water and land animals, ancient piles of discarded oyster shells which yield clues about an extinct culture and the legacy of preservation bequeathed to all by this property's last private owner, Willie Browne.  This area is part of the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve, which is part of the National Park System.

St. Johns River Taxi Tour
A scenic tour on the St. Johns River through Downtown Jacksonville. In addition to offering cruises, the taxi also offers transportation during Jacksonville Jaguars home games. Did you know - the St. Johns River runs from south to north?

Taste of Jacksonville Dinner

Restaurants
Abstrakt Filipino Essence - Chef and owner Jojo Hernandez
In the Beaches neighborhood of Jacksonville, Abstrakt offers Filipino classics with a unique twist. As a founding member of Jax Filipino Chefs, Jojo has been an integral part of the movement to show Northeast Florida that Filipino food is #morethanlumpia and continues the global Filipino Food Movement here on the First Coast. Abstrakt was recently named one of the 30 restaurants to try now by Garden & Gun.

Chancho King - Chefs and owners Chason Spencer and Maria LaMota
Offering authentic Ecuadorian cuisine rooted in traditional family recipes in the Murray Hill neighborhood of Jacksonville, Chancho King opened as a brick-and-mortar restaurant in August 2023. It's signature dish, the pork sandwich, is seasoned in brine over three days and slow roasted overnight.

Crispy's - Owner Joey Powers
Under new ownership, a staple of Jacksonville's Springfield neighborhood was reimagined in June 2025. Driven by a love for great food and community, Crispy's serves bold flavors, chef-crafted dishes and a signature thin-crust pizza.

Mesa - Chefs and owners Brandon George and Saji George
Mesa, the Malayalam word for table, opened in September 2021 in Jacksonville's Ortega neighborhood. Offering delicious and nutritious meals rooted in south Indian cuisine, Saji and her son Brandon change the menu seasonally to offer the freshest ingredients.

Mixed Fillings Pie Shop - Chef and owner Natasha Burton
Located in the heart of Downtown Jacksonville, Natasha is selling pies with a slice of creativity. How about a slice of Beach, Don’t Kill My Vibe? It’s more commonly known as coconut cream pie. Mixed Fillings is the no. 1 spot for pie in Florida as ranked by Yelp and one of America’s most iconic pie shops according to Food & Wine.

Beverages from the Jax Ale Trail
Fishweir Brewery
Ink Factory Brewing
Veterans United Brewing

Venue
Brick & Beam